Brake volunteer Jan Woodward’s daughter Kelly was killed by a drink driver in July 2006. Kelly’s killer was jailed for four and a half years and received a five year ban. Jan was horrified to find that the majority of the driving ban would be served while he was in prison. She set up ‘Kelly’s Campaign’ to call for driving bans come into effect after a prison sentence has been served.
In November 2009 the Coroners and Justice Act received its Royal Assent. Clause 127 and Schedule 15 in the Act represented a success for Kelly’s Campaign. The new law ensures that driving bans do not come into effect until a prison sentence had been served. It also states that if someone serving a driving ban is sent to prison part-way through the ban, for whatever reason, the time they spend there cannot count towards the ban. The catalyst for gaining Government and Parliamentary support for Kelly’s Campaign was Jan’s petition of 14,000 signatures. She actively sought out support from members of Parliament and MP Robert Goodwill raised the issue on her behalf during Prime Ministers Question Time. Less than two years down the line, with sustained pressure from Jan and others, Kelly’s Campaign became British law.
Read more and take action
- Kelly’s story on Brake’s Road Safety Week website.
- Read media coverage of Jan’s campaign in the Daily Telegraph, on BBC News online and in the Northern Echo.
- Go to Brake’s community webpages to campaign in your community.
